UCLA BASKETBALL PREVIEW vs. No. 7 MISSOURI

Matchup: After a rough start to the season, UCLA is riding a season-best four consecutive wins as it prepares to close nonconference play. To earn its fifth, UCLA (9-3) will need to take down No. 7 Missouri - a fast team that looms as UCLA's biggest challenge yet. The Tigers (10-1) are led by Laurence Bower and Phil Pressey, who combine to average 29.2 points. The Bruins, who were ranked as high as No. 11 this year, do not have a win over a ranked team. "It would be very big, especially for our confidence," freshman Kyle Anderson said. "It would be good to come into conference play off such a big win." One player who could use a dose of confidence is freshman forward/center Tony Parker, who has averaged 8.6 minutes per game despite the team having just eight scholarship players. Parker is also the team's lone true big man. "Tony will definitely get in there," head coach Ben Howland said. "He's just behind the guys that are playing ahead of him right now, who are the two wear twins and Kyle, who's playing more and more at the four." In November, guard Tyler Lamb and forward Josh Smith left program within four days. Howland declined to address how much another transfer would damage the team.